Legal news: Pannone; Turner Parkinson; Kuits
PANNONE has launched a service to help companies manage and protect personal and confidential data as new legislation for cyber security breaches looms.
Businesses could be fined up to 2% of their turnover for breaches as a result of new powers being handed to the information watchdog by the European Commission’s Data Protection Directive.
David Cook, cyber security expert at Manchester-based Pannone, believes the new legislation will heap more bureaucracy on businesses and place companies at greater risk of huge fines and reputational damage.
To help businesses and organisations prepare for the Data Protection Directive, Pannone’s cyber security team is offering to audit all their current computer systems and then assist in putting policies and structures in place to prevent them falling foul of the new legislation.
Mr Cook said: “Businesses need to have a structure in place, both in order that they can manage their risk for a data loss and so, if a breach does occur, they can consider the next steps quickly and appropriately and to explain the position properly to the Information Commisioner’s Office.
“Correct legal advice, both pre-emptive and pro-active, will help in this regard. The fines and exposure to reputational damage can be kept to an absolute minimum, if businesses choose to plan ahead.”
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TURNER Parkinson’s dispute resolution team is expecting another successful year, having reported a 41% rise fee income in 2012.
Along with corporate and insolvency, dispute resolution is one of the boutique business law firm’s three main practice areas and accounts for 26% of overall turnover.
During 2012, the firm’s team of nine led by Ian Fitzpatrick acted on a large number of complex multi-million pound cases including civil fraud actions, shareholder disputes, finance litigation, intellectual property, breach of contract claims and contested emergency injunction applications with values ranging up to £20m.
Mr Fitzpatrick said: “In 2012 the team were involved in some of the North West’s largest cases and this, combined with the strength and experience of the team and the calibre of our clients, has contributed to our strong growth. We intend to build on the success of 2012 by continuing to provide the very best, partner-led service.”
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KIRSTI Pinnell, corporate partner at Kuits, has picked up where she lefyt off last year by advising on an AIM-market deal.
After advising on four AIM deals in 2012 – two reversals and two admissions – she acted on the Daily Internet’s step up from the ISDX Growth Market to AIM.
Daily Internet, a managed internet hosting provider, is chaired by veteran dealmaker Michael Edelson, a long-time Kuits client.
Kirsti Pinnell, pictured, said: ““It is encouraging to have been involved in so much AIM work in the last 12 months after a period of relatively low deals activity.
“It is also fairly unusual for a North West based Firm to have completed this number of AIM deals over the period and this is something we are keen to build on.”
In the last 12 months the AIM deals include Sterling Green’s £10m revenue acquisition of Terra Energy, Mercury Recycling Group’s £13.7m reverse takeover of the Ironveld Group and Silverbeck Rymer’s ABS deal with Quindell Portfolio.
